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IKM, Inc. Success Story
IKM Incorporated
(IKM) is a single office firm located in Pittsburgh, PA. IKM
is an Architecture, Planning and Interior Design firm with 45
employees, having been in continuous practice since 1911. The
firm's portfolio exemplifies the reputation of excellence in
executing high profile, high design commissions exhibited by
projects such as the Orthopedic Center at Lancaster General
Hospital, the Penn State University Food Science and Creamery, the
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens additions and renovations,
and the Westinghouse corporate Headquarters.
IKM provides
comprehensive design services forcorporate and institutional spaces
in healthcare, education and research facilities including
site/building analysis, master planning, feasibility studies,
schematic design, design development, building information modeling
(BIM), interior design and documentation, construction document
production, construction contract administration and site
observation, and post occupancy evaluation among others.
Rather than
simply completing commissions, IKM concentrates on building lasting
relationships through understanding the business of their clients,
placing themselves in their positions, and focusing on the holistic
approach to their business processes into which the physical
environment in intrinsically woven.
With the
economic downturn, IKM capitalized on the opportunity to look at its
business and practices. With a recent implementation of Revit
software from Autodesk, IKM looked for ways to distinguish itself,
even further, from their competitors. One way to do so was to
look at partnering with other architectural firms, to provide their
clients with additional skill sets, ideas, and experiences.
IKM made a decision to partner with Kideney Architects, out of
Buffalo New York on a project utilizing Revit.
Roger Hartung,
AIA, NCARB, principal at IKM explained the problem this way: "We
were two architecture firms, working on the same project together.
We had agreed who would provide which parts of the work, but needed
a technological solution to allow both firms to work on the same
Revit model in order to carry forward what had been agreed to.
I had been told about Riverbed by a colleague at another
architectural firm, which convinced us to experiment with Riverbed"
Collaboration
Systems Group (CSG), a premier Riverbed reseller and recognized
leader in Revit Model Sharing solutions, was able to work with both
firms in setting up a Proof of Concept. The Proof of Concept
allowed each company to place a Riverbed Steelhead appliance at
their respective office to verify it would allow both firms to work
on a single Revit project at the same time, across a VPN connection
between the two offices. In December, 2009, the Proof of
Concept was deemed a success. "Teaming with other architects
was new to us at the time we were evaluating Riverbed", states Mr.
Hartung, "We have since decided that teaming with other architects
is very important in providing prospective clients a comfort level
to choose us as their design professional by offering the
appropriate skill sets on our team".
In discussing
the impact of the Riverbed solution on the company's business, Mr.
Hartung states, "We have been able to work seamlessly together as
one architectural firm, despite that we are two companies, to
deliver successful design solutions to our client. Using the
Riverbed solution has helped our firms work together seamlessly and
deliver a successful project to a highly regarded client. All
of the anticipated messiness of a joint venture team, including
coordination of drawings, maintaining standards, and keeping up
communication so everyone is on the same page has been eliminated.
The client is getting the best team to deliver the project. A
happy client is more likely to be a repeat client, something all
firms strive to achieve. In addition, we have found a partner
we are comfortable with. We have developed a good process for
working together and have extended each other's marketing
capabilities by virtue of our relationship. That is a win-win
that Riverbed has helped to foster".
IKM has also
benefitted in another, unexpected, way. Based on the success
of the two firms' ability to work together, they find they are being
handed additional work, simply by having demonstrated the partnering
relationship is successful for their client.
Mr. Hartung
concluded that he'd highly recommend the Riverbed solution to a
colleague and that his investment in Riverbed has "more than paid
for itself". For more information on IKM, please visit
www.ikminc.com
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